Pork Knuckles & Potato Salad

(STAFF PHOTO: J.T. WAMPLER) Bobs '47 Oktoberfest is a 5.8% A.B.V. offering from Boulevard Brewing Co. in Kansas City, Mo. The neck label explains the name is a tribute to Bob Werkowitch, a 1947 graduate of the US Brewers' Academy. Pours caramel colored with a thick creamy head that can hold up a bottle cap. Aroma is metallic with a faint hop kicker. Taste is a robust balance of malt upfront and a gentle hop finish. This is a very drinkable Munich-style lager from a great brewery. Get this seasonal while you can. Pair with wiener schnitzel, pork knuckles and potato salad. Rating: Four caps.

Bob’s 47 delights, invites odd dinner partners

Wamp’s Wisdom

Bobs ’47 Oktoberfest is a 5.8 percent A.B.V. offering from Boulevard Brewing Co. in Kansas City, Mo. The neck label explains the name is a tribute to Bob Werkowitch, a 1947 graduate of the U.S. Brewers’ Academy.
The beer pours caramel colored with a thick creamy head that can hold up a bottle cap.
The aroma is metallic with a faint hop kicker. Taste is a robust balance of malt up front with a gentle hop finish.
This is a very drinkable Munich-style lager from a great brewery. Get this seasonal while you can. Pair with wiener schnitzel, pork knuckles and potato salad.
Rating: Four caps

Rico’s Reaction

This is one of those beers I’d really like to give a shot on tap to give it a fair consideration.
Some beers just don’t sing as well in the bottle as they do from the keg, Abita’s Purple Haze always being the example I offer. I enjoy Purple Haze in the bottle, but I LOVE the taste on draught in a frosty mug.
Don’t get me wrong. I enjoyed Bobs ’47, but that enjoyment paled in comparison to drinking the Oktoberfest beer at Hog Haus. But then, one was drunk out of the bottle while the other was poured for me in a tall glass. Just doesn’t seem like that makes for a fair comparison.
Regardless, it’s a tasty beer to take advantage of while available. This particular brew evokes a barbecue mood for me. I was wishing the whole time for some brisket, pulled pork and half a chicken to join me in testing Bobs ’47.
Boulevard is an excellent brewer, and I love all their wares — particularly their unfiltered wheat beer. Thus I’m extremely jealous that my partner-in-hops is getting to tour the brewery on his vacation. Somebody better steal me a keg!
Rating: Four caps

Rating system

One Cap: Put it back in the horse!
Two Caps: Consume only if the other choice is Tijuana tap water or Coors Light.
Three Caps: Acceptable without standing out. The Tito Jackson of beer, if you will.
Four Caps: Nice beer that rises above most but may not deliver enough to be considered great.
Five Caps: Truly great beer that delivers on all counts. A credit to its style. Could only be better if served by scantily clad concubines.
Six Caps: Any five cap beer served by scantily clad concubines.